Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-04-02
THE xATIosaL cAPTTAl

a
WAEHIxoToz. April I, 1887.
Representative Townsend. Of Illinois.
who Is still in Washington. stated during
3 chat with your correspondent tbs
other morning. that be Expects en- extra
session Of Congress to be called in %
tObsF. He does not think there is any
need for Congress 70 meet before thsn,
but there are many reasons Why they
should meet ct this time. TIE Dehcien-
ey bill and the River and HaEboE bill.
be thinks, will need 10 be- acted on be-
fore Congress meets in December, and
besides that u IL important that the
House should be organized and prepar-
ed for vsFk soon enough 10 get through
with their business before political dis
cassious begin to take up the time. II
IL desirable that they should do as
mach AZ possible 1t the session Just
preceding q political contest. and adj
ioarn early. There il bound to be much
time taken up on the q or OF the House
Ia talking politics, and unless there Il an
extra session called IN October the pros
poets OF doing much wsFk during the
session are not good. He does not en-.
pect any contest over the speakership or
the organization Of the House, and
thinks that II there is 10 be sny revision
of the tariff she Executive will have to
take 9 hand in Il.
Your correspondent was informed
Saturday By a Democrat Of prominence
that the President was determined 20
appoint Assistant Secretary Fsirchild,
Secretary OF the Treasury, end ex Rep
resentative Morrison. Chairman Of the
Inter State Commission. Speaker Oar
lisle was offered the SecretsFyship II
the Treasury and the President was
anxioas to have him take il, bat be de.
elined, saying that he felt that be con
sulted bis best interest ia remaining 10
bis present field Of sotiOn. Mr.. Carlisle
il poor man, and IL Is understood
among his friends that be thought a
Cabinet position would entail social
obligations vhich would be more expen-
sive than be eonid afiDrd. While be
may nos have mentioned that as a rsa.
son for declining. Il Is understood that
it contributed 10 bis decision.
In the House Of Representatives some
time ago a detailed account OF the ex-
penditurss of the visitors TO the United
States Naval Academy for the hssal
year 1885 vas read aud IL called out
some lively criticism. TIE expenses
were made up largely Of such items a.
Henessy brandy, bourbon whisky cigars,
etc. Not only vas the character Of the
expenditures censored in she House, but
the press Of the country commented
severely up1n the visitors for their ex-
traysgant mode Of living at the public
expense. But the exposure did not
woFk any reform. The Board Of Wis.,.
tors TO the Naval Academy last year
followed The example Of their prede-
oessors Of she year previous IN the
matter OF iuxnries paid for cot OF the
public treasury. Their bill for eat
abies aud dFinkAblse amounted 10 81,
30. and was made Up OF such items
As tho following; Five dozen frogs legs,
81 80, six teErapin, $40. sixty bottles
appolhnaris water. 60 30; 100 Reina
Victoria cigars, fl5; tW9 Gases P0meroy
seo. SIS; etc. The Visitors apparently
lived on the fat OF the land duFiag the
few days they we're as the Naval Acad-
emV
The Senate Select Committee 20 in
qaire Into the methods OF doing busi-
ness IN the Government DepaFtmsnts
a. Washington and the causes Of allegs
delays 10 the transaction Of such bust
ness. held its second meeting at toe
Capitol last Friday. A general plan Of
conducting she inqa ~ vas agreed upon.
IL vas decided that senator Coekrell. as
a sub Committee. shall prosecute inqui-
ries, upon mAtters euthoriE a by the
resolutions in all tae EEeeutive Depart
ments.
Forms Of letters 10 be addressed TO
the heads of Departments and bureaus
we're adopted, and Il WAS decided that
senator CockFell shall receive the re-
plies 90 tbese inteFrOgateries. aud shall
prosecute personal inquiries, and he
will submit all the information be shall
obtain 30 she Committee u a meeting
10 be held on she 2oth Of next June.
TIE plan % Inquiry Il very oompre-
hensive. and u will be directed 10 the
aaesrtAismeat Of The disposition Of
clerical fovces in the various Depart
ments. and A. D. the additional clerks
that may be needed 10 facilitate public
business.
TIE Attorney General has decided
that the available balance Of the general
Appropriation under she respective
heads % "BaFeas % Constructi1n and
Repair" and "Bafeau OF Steam Enein-
eefinR" can be lawfully applied and
used IN completing The halls and una
chinery OF the Chicago and Boston.
provided The fetal expenditure shall
net exceed the total estimated cost Of
sAid halls aud machinery, ~ reported
by the Naval Advisory Board under
date Of December % lSS2. The Secru-
tary Of the Navy has therefore directed
that work 90 these vessels Ne resumed
Immediately. I4ESox.